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HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
A Weekly Page of Poultry Hints to Help You
Here Is a Department Full of Bright Ideas for Readers of the Home and Farm Magazine Section
4 These flays the farmer seems 4
to spend most of his time ward-
4- ing off diseases of one kind or
4- another from his stock or his 4-4-
trees. - Fowl tuberculosis is an- 4
4 other disease it is worth while 4
4 keeping an eye open for. Here 4
4- is an interesting article on tfee, 4
4 subject. j 4"
4-
.j. 4, .j. .j. .;... .j.
By T. D. BECK WITH
Bacteriologist Oregon Agricultural
College.
DISEASE which is becoming
prevalent in the poultry in
dustry of the Northwest is call
ed avian tuberculosis, or tuberculosis
of poultry. It is a disease which is
due, like most of the other diseases to
which all higher animals are suscept
ible, to a living cause, ,a certain germ
which cannot affect a healthy fowl
unless it be carried to that fowl by
some means. It never generates spon
taneously. It is a disease which is
fairly recent in the United States, hav
ing been noted in this country only in
1900, but it has been known in Europe
for very many years.
The disease is exceedingly difficult
to detect, for it is very slow in action
and its spread has probably taken
place insidiously, bo that it has often
become thoroughly established by the
time the farmer is aware of Its pres
ence. At first merely one or two birds
grow weak and slowly die, but later
the fatality increases so that a very
large percentage of a flock, or the
whole flock, may be lost.
It is a disease which tends to at
tack tame or domestic birds, such as
chickens, rather than birds In the
wild state; since domestic fowls are
living under less natural conditions,
where in very many instsances their
freedom is limited, and they do not
have a sufficient quantity of fresh air
for the best conditions of health. It
is a disease which tends to attack the
adult fowl rather than chicks.
Similar in Cattle
-The disease is very similar to tuber
culosis found in cattle, and to con
sumption found in human beings. The
method of action of its germ is much
the same and there is great reason
to believe among scientific workers
that it is possible for the disease to
pass from man to fowl or from cattle
to man.
In the symptoms, which appear
only after the disease is well estab
lished, the bird very often shows
emaciation and becomes droopy; the
feathers are ruffled; the droppings
become, greenish in color, and the
bird may go lame, due to weakness
of the legs. Sometimes the comb or
wattles become pallid; the eyes may
be bright and a'so sunken; the appe
tite is likely to become ravenous.
There is no special symptom which
may be noted, but rather the diagnosis
must be made from a combination of
all the symptoms.
In human tuerculosis, the lungs are
most often attacked by the disease,
and the other organs are therefore
secondary in the total cases of infec
tion. In fowls, however, a different
condition is found. The liver, in al
most all instances, shows a tuber
culous appearance, and the spleen
which is a small pear-shaped body
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about one-half inch In diameter just
back of the liver, shows infection in
almost as many cases. In less than
one-fifth of the cases in fowls do the
lungs appear to be affected.
Signs in Bird
On cutting open a tuberculosis bird
it will be found that there are very
small yellowish and whitish spots,
sometimes slightly swollen, although
the swelling is not a necessary mani
festation. These areas differ in dia
meter from one-sixteenth to one-
fourth inch. In consistency they are
heesy, or they may appear to be little
embedded portions of heavy fat,
though pressure of the knife will
show the difference. Sometimes, In
older cases, they feel gritty when cut.
These are the tubercles which have
been produced by the bacteria. They
are the point where the germs are
growing and therefore are the very
centers from which the disease germs
work.
The disease Is spread from bird to
bird through the droppings, as the
germ finds Its way by this method to
the exterior. If the chickens are fed
in a dirty, filthy place then, and there
are already some tuberculous birds in
the flock, it may easily be seen how
the disease passes from one to the
other. Flics are also without doubt
a factor in the spread of the disease.
In only a small percentage of cases
is the disease transmitted through the
egg.
No Known Cure
There is no known cure for the
disease. The bird does not react
readily to tuberculin and-, therefore
this method cannot be used for de
tecting the disease, although such a
method is of very great value for cat
tle. For small flocks that are infect
ed with tuberculosis the best method
is to kill the entire stock, give a very
thorough disinfection, allow the land
to lie for a year, and then start again.
It must be remembered, and the point
must be emphasized, that birds which
die from infection by this disease, or
which are killed when the disease is
suspected, must be burned. They
must not be buried where earth
worms may carry the partly decom
posed material to the surface to infect
other birds, nor must they be thrown
into fence corners where birds as yet
uninfected may pick them and thus
become infected.
In case the stock is too large to be
done away with, disinfection of the
premises is the only possible proced'
ure, and often that is not at all cer
tain. All suspected birds must first
be weeded out. The houses must be
cleaned, all dirt and litter taken out,
and then scrubbed. Eating troughs
and drinking basins must receive the
same treatment. Formaldehyde Is ef
fective only in a tight house. Lime
spray may be used, 100 pounds of
fresh lime being slacked with 60
pounds of water and mixed thorough
ly. For use, one quart of the above
slaked lime should be added to four
quarts of water. This should be stirr
ed thoroughly and sieved. It should
be used immediately as a spray and
every crack must be covered. The
runs must be plowed up and turned
under in order that the germs may be
placed below the ground, where they
may be expected in time to die out.
Examinations Are Free
As an alternative the following for
mula, recommended by the Maine
State Experiment Station, will be
found useful: "Measure out 3 1-5
quarts of raw linseed oil in a 4 or 5
gallon stone crock; then weigh out In
a dish 1 pound 6 ounces of commercial
lye or 'Babbitt's potash.' Dissolve
this lye in as little water as will com
pletely dissolve It. Start with one-half
pint of water and if this will not dis
solve all the lye, add more water
slowly. Let this stand for at least
three hours until the lye is completely
dissolved and the solution is cold, then
add the cold lye solution very slowly
to the linseed oil, stirring constantly.
Not less than five minutes should Ue
taken for the adding of this solution
to the oil. After the lye is added con
tinue the stirring until the mixture is
in the condition, and has the texture,
of a smooth homogeneous liquid soap.
This ought not to take more than half
an hour. Then, while the soap is (n
this liquid state and before it has a
chance to harden, add, with constant
stirring, quarts of commercial
cresol. The cresol will blend perfect
ly with the soap solution and make a
clear, dark brown fluid. The result
ing solution will mix In any proportion
with water and yield a clear solution.
"Two or three tablespdonfuls of the
cresol soap to each gallon of water
will make a satisfactory solution. This
solution may be applied through any
kind of spray pump or with a brush."
In case the Oregon farmer fears the
disease in his flock and does not trust
Shall We, "Swat the Rooster Here?"
Eliminate the Male Bird From Poultry Flocks During Summer
and Fall Is Advised
4- 4-
41 Here is a development of that 4"
4" "swat the rooster" Idea we have 4
4 been hearing about recently. 4"
The South plans great slaughter 4
4" on May 16, while Missouri plans 4
4 for June 6. 4-4-
! aa ! J t Ja Ja J
I
N THE Interest of the Infertile-egg
the poultry specialists of the De
partment of Agriculture have
started a campaign for the elimina
tion of the rooster among poultry
flocks during the seasons between
May 1 and December 1. In this con
nection Saturday, May 16, has been
set aside as rooster day In Kentucky
and Tennessee, when every poultry
dealer in these states has agreed to
pay the same prices for roosters as
they do for hens and pullets.
There is an enormi us loss in eggs
as the result of the fertile egg, especi
ally during the summer and fall
months, and it is for this reason the
Department of Agriculture recom
mends that the rooster be kept away
from the hens during these seasons.
It is estimated that one-third of the
tremendous annual loss of eggs Is due
to the fertile egg.
Fertile Kggs Spoil Quickly
It is not necessary for a rooster to
be amog hens in order that their lay
ing qualities may not be curtailed. The
rooster, it is advised, should be allow
ed with the hens only during the
breeding season, and eggs that are in
tended for hatching purposes should
be fertile, as the Infertile ones will not
hatch.
Fertile eggs spoil very quickly when
subjected to the ordinary methods of
handling on the farm and when mar
keted during the hot summer months
under adverse conditions. Infertile
eggs will keiP in good condition in
temperatures which will cause fertile
eggs to rot On May 15 the school
Some Poultry Ques
tions Are Answered
THE great problem In poultry cul
ture is "How to make the in
come overtake the cost of pro
duction," and in solving this problem
several Important questions must be
considered.
What breed shall I select? What is
the best breed? How can I Improve
the quality of my flock? How can I
maintain vigor, size and productive
ness in the flock and sacrifice nothing
In color or shape? These are questions
that confront every breeder.
The remark is often made that one
breed is as good as another. Such a
statement must be taken with due al
lowance. The selecting of a breed
must be determined by climate, the
environment, the end sought and the
tastes of the individual. The White
Leghorn would not be selected for a
market fowl, nor for a severe climate.
The Buff Cochin would not be selected
for egg production nor for southern
climate.
Maintaining quality while preserv
ing vigor is accomplished by Introduc
ing blood from time to time and by a
process of line breeding. It is some
times disastrous to introduce new
blood. If a conflicting strain is used,
the work of years may be destroyed
in a single season. But new blood, If
obtained from the same strain as the
original flock, i. e., from a strain that
has been bred In line for years, will
add vigor and quality to the flock.
Some advocate adding blood through
the female, others prefer selecting a
choice male and mating him with a
pen of selected females.
Another method of maintaining
vigor is by process of lfhe breeding.
There are two methods of in-breeding
where males and females from
the
his own diagnosis after cutting up the
bird, he can take out the internal
organs, place them in denatured alco
hol and forward them to the depart
ment of bacteriology. Agricultural
College, where the diagnosis will ba
made, free.
authorities of the cities, counties and
towns of Kentucky and Tennessee
have been requested to announce
rooster day to the scholars and it is
expected that it will be observed. It
Is expected that other states will fol
low the lead of their two Southern
sisters and that rooster days will be
pretty geenrally established.
The department advises that on
May 1 all male birds be either killed,
sold or confined until December 1 or
as late at January 1 in some localities,
inasmuch as it Is not necessary to the
laying qualities of a hen that a rooster
be maintained In the flock. More
over, his presence during those months
means fertile eggs, which mean bad
eggs and the consequent loss to the
producer and the consumer.
Market Old Hens
It Is advisable to market the old
hens in the summer as soon as the
second laying season is over, con
tinues the department's advice, as
hens over two ycara old rarely lay as
many eggs as they do in their pullet
and yearling seasons. Keep the nests
clean; provide one nest for every four
hens; gather the eggs twice dally;
keep the eggs in a cool, dry room or
cellar; and market them at least twice
a week. Market all cockrels except
those intended for breeding purposes,
as soon as they attain broiler size, for
they will pay a larger profit at that
time than if held until fall, when the
market becomes over-crowded.
- The department Is planning a cam
paign among the boys' and girls' poul
try clubs In Kentucky, Tennessee, Vir
ginia and North and South Carolina,
to encourage not only production of a
better grade of eggs, but a more uni
form method of grading. Arrange
ments are being made to offer prizes
for the production of the best dozen
of eggs and It Is expected that the
state, county or municipal officials
will offer such prizes as trips to the
Panama-American Exposition at San
Francisco.
same parents are mated together.
This results in physical deterioration
and is undesirable. Line trending Is
a form of in-breeding and at the same
time maintains vigor and tends to
perpetuate desirable characteristics.
Suppose a breeder begins with a
flock of two females and one male.
They have been line bred and, there
fore, are not closely related. During
the first year this pen will produce a
large number of pullets and cockerels.
At the beginning of the second season
the cock bird is mated to 10 of the.
beBt pullets and hens of the original
pen are mated with one of the best
cockerels. From these two pens we
have two lines of production. The
cockerels from one line can be mated
to the pullets of the other line and
vice versa. By adding new blood from
time to time, of the same otraln as
the original pen, a line of breeding
can be established excelling In color,
shape, vigor and productiveness.
Vigor in the foundation stock Is of
supreme importance. When lacking,
it means inferior eggs and stock, dead
chicks in the shell, disease In tho
flock and unproductiveness.
Where fowls are produced In large
numbers, housing is of supreme im
portance. Houses will be required for
breeding stock, for Incubation, for
brooding the growing stock, and for
conditioning for market. With the
farmer and small breeder, however,
who keeps but one bred and a limited
number of fowls, the question of
housing is simpler. To him the chief
consideration is the breeding house
and winter home of the fowls.
Ghent, Belgium, furnishes practi
cally all of the potted specimens of the
symmetrical Araucaria, or Norfolk
island pine, used as an ornamental
foliage house plant, In Europe and
America. The United States imports
lorat least 250,000 of these plants In 6-
or G-lnch pots each year.